M&M'S® Turns Laughs Into Donations For The Second Annual U.S. Red Nose Day

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., April 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- M&M'S is on a mission to raise money, awareness, and lots of laughter for the second annual Red Nose Day campaign through a social media challenge. Red Nose Day, which debuted in the U.S. in 2015, is a special day to come together, have fun and raise awareness and money for kids who need our help the most, here at home and around the world.

M&M'S is on a mission to raise money and laughter for the 2nd annual Red Nose Day campaign with the #MakeMLaugh 30 Days of Laughs Challenge. Each day leading up to Red Nose Day on May 26, M&M'S will issue a new challenge and every time someone engages with the #MakeMLaugh hashtag, the brand will donate $1 to the Red Nose Day Fund, up to $500,000. This year's campaign kicks off with a video challenge from actor and YouTube creator, Jon Cozart. Stay tuned to M&M'S Twitter (@mmschocolate) for more information."

For the second year in a row, the M&M'S Brand is raising money and awareness for Red Nose Day with the #MakeMLaugh challenge. Every time someone engages with the #MakeMLaugh hashtag, the brand will donate $1 to the Red Nose Day Fund, up to $500,000 through May 26th. M&M'S will kick-start the effort with a $500,000 donation to the Red Nose Day Fund, with the goal of giving $1 million.

You Do It, We Donate!Each day leading up to Red Nose Day on May 26, M&M'S will issue a new challenge to its social media community. From sharing your favorite knock-knock joke, to your best dance moves (chicken dance included) to face swapping, the challenges aim to make people laugh. Each day the brand will feature one lucky fan's participation in the challenge on their social pages to trigger an extra $1,000 donation to the Red Nose Day Fund.

Ready, Set, LAUGH!This year's #MakeMLaugh campaign kicks off with a video challenge from writer, actor and YouTube creator, Jon Cozart. Consumers can watch the video here, complete his challenge and share on their social media pages using hashtag #MakeMLaugh to kick-off the laughs and donations. Throughout the next 30 days the brand will be working with a number of social media influencers and partners including the driver of the No. 18 M&M'S Toyota Camry, Kyle Busch, to help generate more laughs.

"The M&M'S characters enjoy making any situation humorous, so the goal is to take that comical spirit to create awareness for the Red Nose Day Fund," said Tanya Berman, Brand Director, M&M'S Brand. "This year we've enlisted a variety of partners to fill the next 30 days with laughs and give our fans the opportunity to participate and help a great cause."

Red Nose Day Television SpecialThe second-annual Red Nose Day television special will air Thursday, May 26, 2016 on NBC at 9 p.m. ET, supported by M&M'S and Walgreens. The hottest celebrities and artists from comedy, music, TV and film will come together to have fun, raise money and change the lives of children who need our help the most in the U.S. and internationally. The live, two-hour benefit will feature great comedy and incredible musical performances. Consumers are encouraged to support Red Nose Day by purchasing one of the campaign's trademark red noses for $1 from Walgreens locations, with proceeds benefitting the Red Nose Day Fund. The can also support by fundraising in their own communities and tuning in to the live TV special.

All For a Good CauseRed Nose Day has raised over $1 billion globally in the past 25 years, and in the UK has become a cultural phenomenon where people across the country come together to have fun, raise money and change lives. Red Nose Day began in the U.S. last year and successfully raised over $23 million dollars, which benefitted children and young people in all 50 states and 15 countries internationally through programs to ensure they are safe, healthy and educated.

In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars' first roots as a confectionery company. In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of building a business based on the objective of creating a "mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders" – this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 75,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.

Red Nose Day (rednoseday.org) is a fundraising campaign run by the non-profit organization Comic Relief Inc.(comicrelief.org), a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. Red Nose Day has raised over $1 billion globally in the last 25 years, and in the UK has become a cultural phenomenon where people across the country come together to have fun, raise money and change lives. Red Nose Day launched in the U.S. in 2015, dedicated to raising money to help children who are most in need, both in the U.S. and in some of the poorest communities in the world. Last year it benefited children and young people in all 50 states and in 15 countries internationally.

Red Nose Day returns this year on Thursday May 26, 2016. The day's events will culminate in a two-hour live primetime TV special on NBC at 9 p.m. ET, featuring the biggest stars across comedy, music, TV and film. Funds raised go to the Red Nose Day Fund which distributes the money through programs to keep children and young people safe, healthy and educated. Comic Relief, Inc. in the US and Comic Relief UK are independent sister organizations that are joined by their shared vision of a just world, free from poverty and the mission to drive positive change through the power of entertainment.